I am confused... I thought that the Joaquín we were talking about is the bandit but no one can live for five hundred years. I understand the sorrow, hurt, and longing of the text but I don't understand the perspective I should be reading it in. Is it a single person or are they speaking in the sense of many?

The word "machismo" has always been used in an unpleasant way as society develops but in this instance, it is used as something good. He is a man with pride for his country, family, and ancestors. Not machismo in a toxic way like it is used today.

Killing to stay alive versus the Anglos killing to conquer...

Joaquín Murrieta: A Mexican bandit known for his freedom fighting ethnic discrimination.

As I read this, I think it is coming from a place of encouragement of themselves not as a downplay on anyone else.

Zapotec: Indigenous peoples of Mexico who live in Oaxaca. The Zapotec people developed advancements to Mesoamerica like a writing system and calendar which was before the Aztecs and Mayans.

Translation: "May the gachupines die, and long live the Virgin of Guadalupe"

Name of the last Aztec ruler. Meaning descending eagle or the one who swoops down like one.

I find it interesting that he decided to capitalize "Progress" when the text expresses their dislike of this whole idea. The respect of something that has arguably shattered their life is crazy to me.

After reading the whole poem, I was wondering why the name Joaquín, but after some light research it makes sense.

Joaquín: established by God

I am not religious myself, but my family is heavily religious and from my experience it is because our ancestors were religious. I am making a stereotypical assumption that Joaquín is a believer as a majority of Chicanos